On September 16, 2010, the Senate confirmed Elisabeth Hagen to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety.
On September 16, 2010, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Francisco Sanchez to be Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade.
On September 16, 2010, the Senate began consideration of the motion to proceed to consider the National Defense Authorization Act - Agreement (S. 3454), which would authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year. The Senate is expected to continue its consideration on September 20, 2010.
On September 16, 2010, the Senate passed H.R. 5297, the Small Business Lending Fund Act, on September 16, 2010. According to a statement by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus (D), the bill would, among other things, create new tools to help small businesses export goods and establish a new State Export Promotion Grant Program.
On September 16, 2010, the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the House Ways and Means Committee held separate hearings on China currency issues. Highlights of Treasury Secretary Geithner’s testimony, and remarks from Committee members include:
On September 15, 2010, the following executive communications were received by Congress:
The following hearings are scheduled for September 16, 2010:
On September 15, 2010, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the federal role in national rail policy, including S. 2889, to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Board.
On September 15, 2010, the Senate reached agreement to continue its consideration of H.R. 5297, the Small Business Lending Fund Act, on September 16, 2010. According to a statement by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus (D), the bill would, among other things, create new tools to help small businesses export goods and establish a new State Export Promotion Grant Program. The President's remarks on H.R. 5297 are available here.
On September 8, 2010, Senator Murray (D) hosted a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Washington state farmers and growers so that LaHood could hear first-hand about the negative effects Mexican tariffs are having on Washington state’s agriculture industry.